Oral statement for the Interactive Dialogue with the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar

We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the ongoing, large-scale, deliberate, widespread, and systematic attacks against unarmed Rohingya civilians, including women and children, by Myanmar security forces in Rakhine State.

Since October 2016, approximately half a million Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh as a result of these attacks. According to UN estimates, nearly the entire Rohingya population will have fled from Myanmar by the end of the year. This fits the definition of ethnic cleansing.

The Myanmar government’s unwillingness to investigate atrocities committed against Rohingya is evidenced by the failure of its latest investigative body on Rakhine State, the Myint Swe Commission, to establish facts, identify perpetrators, and hold them accountable. Since 2012, seven government-appointed bodies have failed to hold perpetrators of atrocities committed against Rohingya accountable.

This is the time to act.

We urge the council to adopt a resolution that calls on the Myanmar military and security forces to immediately cease all operations in northern Rakhine State and to grant unfettered access to humanitarian organizations.

The resolution should also call on the Myanmar government to stop using state-controlled media, websites, and social media to incite hatred and discrimination against Rohingya. These acts are morally unacceptable and in contravention of Myanmar’s own laws and international standards.

We also urge the council resolution to extend the mandate of the Fact-Finding Mission beyond March 2018 and to call on the Myanmar government to immediately grant the Fact-Finding Mission access to the country.